Shock-absorber for vehicle-wheels.



PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908. W. E. SNEDIKER. SHOCK ABSORBER FOR VEHICLEWHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16. 1907.

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PATENT'ED JUNE 2, 1908.

SHOCK ABSORBER FOR VEHICLE WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR, 16. 1907.

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wizumnmnnnzma' III THE NORRIS PETERS a, WASHINGTON,.D;'C.

WILLIAM E. SNEDIKER, OF NEW YORK,N.Y.

SHOCK-ABSORBER FOR VEHICLE-WHEELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed March 16, 1907. Serial No. 362,670.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. SNEDIKER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York andState ofNew York, whose post-office address is 540 West One Hundred andFortysixth street, New York city, New York, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Shock-Absorber for Vehicle-Wheels, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, whereby any oneskilled in the art may make and use the same.

The invention relates to shock absorbing devices, and more particularlyto such a device applied intermediate the wheel and the axle whichsupports it.

The objects of the invention are to provide a resilient cushionintermediate a wheel and its axle, for absorbing shock and jar whichmight ordinarily be transmitted to the axle and ap urtenant parts.

A sti further object is to provide an arrangement of lever and cushiondevice which will give a maximum efliciency for absorbing vibration,with a minimum deflection of the main operative parts.

Referring to the drawings :Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of awheel embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a detailed view in elevation,of the end of the axle bar. Fig. 3 is a detailed view in side elevation,of the axle arm or wheel bar. Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the shockabsorbing lever. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the lever shown in Fig. 4..Fig. 6 is a plan view of the end of the axle, axle arm and leverassembled, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a view in elevation andpartial section showing a steering wheel with the invention complete.Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through the parts shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9is a detailed view in side elevation of the steering knuckle. Fig. 10 isa rear elevation of the steering knuckle.

It has been common practice to use cushion tires of various forms, andspring devices, intermediate vehicle wheels and their axles, forabsorbing shock and vibration incidental to the running of the vehiclewheel over irre ular surfaces.

t is one of the objects of the present invention, .to provide a cheapand economical shock absorber intermediate the wheel and its axlewithout necessitating the use of expensive tires and elaborate springmechanisms.

A further feature of the invention resides in the renewability of ashock absorbing material which is comparatively small and inexpensive.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a vehicle wheelprovided with spokes 2, a hub 3 and a tire 4, the latter s own herein asof circular cross section. This wheel 1, is mounted and has a bearingupon a stub axle 2 provided with an extension 3 having a pivoted opening4* by which it is pivoted to a shock absorbing lever 5, through anopening 6, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing. This stub axle hasalways maintained a substantially horizontal position, through thenatural arrangement of the parts. To insure this position, strut bars orspace bars 6 are employed, and these are pivoted at one end to bosses 7,upon the flange 8 of the stub axles, and at the opposite end to the mainaxle bar 9, as at 10. The main axle bar has a bifurcated end 11,overlying it is a web 12 which rises vertically from the axle bar andterminates in the substantially horizontal part 13.

Within the bifurcated end 11 of the main axle bar 9, is pivotallyarranged the shock absorbing lever 5. The pivots for this lever extendthrough the outer side portions 14-15 and through the sides 16-17 of thebifurcated axle end. Between the sides 1415 is formed an opening 18within which the end 3 of the stub axle 2 is inserted and pivoted.Between the shock absorbing lever 5 and the web 12-13 is arranged aresilient material 19, which normally is under a fair amount ofcompression, owing to the weight of the parts carried by the axle of thevehicle.

Attention is called to the arrangement of the pivot of the stub axlewith reference to the shock absorbing lever, and the pivots of the shockabsorbing lever, with reference to the main axle 9, and their relationto the shock absorbing lever. A downward movement of the axle moves thepivot 20 of the shock absorbing lever downward in a substantiallyvertical plane. As the wheel rests upon a fixed surface, the shockabsorbing lever 5 is naturally turned upon this pivot against the shockabsorbing material 19. At the same time, the pivot between the stub axle2 and the shock absorbing lever, permits a substantially verticalarrangement of the wheel 1. I

Thus far the device has been described in connection with a wheel alwaysrunning substantially at right angles to the axis of the main axle. Inthe remaining figures of the drawings there is illustrated a wheel ofthe type commonly known as the independent steering wheel type, commonlyused on power propelled vehicles. In said form, the main axle has asocket 26, with a projecting portion 27 underlying it, to provide ahorizontal bearing through an opening 35 for the shock absorbing partsof the mechanism. Mounted within the socket 26 is a steering knucklemember 29, having a bifurcated end 30, within which is pivoted the shockabsorbing lever 31 as at 32. This steering knuckle member, as in thecase of the axle end heretofore described, has a vertical web 32*, withan extension 33 which form a sufiicient bearing for the resilient shockabsorbing material 34. At its lower end it is recessed at at 35, tooverlie and underlie the extension 27 of the main axle, and is pivotedthereto to move in a horizontal plane by the pivot 28. On its rear faceadjacent to the socket 26, it is provided with a fin or slide 35 whichrests within a slideway 36 of circular form located in the seat 26formed at the end of the main axle.

It will be seen from the description, that the steering knuckle 29 hasample bearing for horizontal movement through the intermeshing of theparts 35-36, the socket 26 and the opening 35 and extension 27. The stubaxle 37, with its pivoted extension 38, is arranged within thebifurcated end of the shock absorbing lever 31 and pivoted as at 39. Theshock absorbing lever with the stub axle, is in turn, pivoted to thesteering knuckle 29 at at 32. -This device with the wheel and shockabsorbing parts of the mechanism, are self-contained within the steeringknuckle 29, which is provided with a steering arm 40, which may becoupled up with any desired arrangement of steering ap aratus. It isalso apparent that the steering nuckle and parts carried by it, may bereadily moved in a horizontal direction and upon the vertical pivot 28*,without impairing the effective action of the shock absorber.

Obviously various forms of the device might be used, and its detailsmight be materially changed without departing from the intent or scopeof the invention'which contemplates a shock absorber of efficientleverage for preventing the transmission of shock or ar from the vehiclewheel to the axle and parts carried thereby.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A shock absorber for vehicle wheels comprising a resilient cushioninterposed between the main axle and its wheel, a stub axle bearing thewheel and a lever movable with reference to the stub axle and main axleand reacting against the resilient cushion.

2. A shock absorber comprising a resilient cushion, an axle, a retainerfor the cushion formed upon the axle, a wheel bearing pivotally mountedwith respect to the axle, and a lever pivotally arranged with referenceto the axle and the wheel bearing and arranged to bear against theresilient cushion.

3. In a device of the class specified, in combination an axle, a wheelbearing pivoted thereto, a lever pivoted to the axle and having a looseconnection with the wheel bearing, and a resilient cushion interposedbetween the lever and the axle.

4. In a device of the class specified, an axle provided with abifurcated end, a lever pivoted in the opening of said end, an axlebearing pivoted to said lever, and a resilient cushion intermediate thelever and the axle.

5. In a device of the class specified, an axle having a bifurcated end,a lever pivoted therein and provided with a recess, an axle bearingpivoted within said recess, and resilient means for limiting themovement of the lever with reference to the axle.

6. In a device of the class specified, an axle having a bifurcated end,a lever pivoted therein and provided with a recess, an axle bar pivotedwithin said recess, resilient means for limiting the movement of thelever with reference to the axle, and means for maintaining the axle barin vertical position irrespective of the movement of the axle.

7. In a device of the class specified, an axle provided with a seat, asteering knuckle arranged Within said seat and having a verticalopening, a pivot intermediate the steering knuckle and seat, a leverpivoted to said steering knuckle, an axle bar pivoted with reference tosaid steering knuckle, and a resilient cushion interposed between thelever and the steering knuckle.

8. A shock absorber for vehicles having a compound lever interposedbetween the main axle and wheel and comprising a wheel bearing and alever both loosely mounted with respect to the main axle and to eachother, and a resilient material interposed in said leverage system toabsorb shocks intermediate the wheel and main axle.

9. In a device of the class specified, in combination with an axle, awheel bearing connected therewith for horizontal and vertical movementsand connections, including a lever and a resilient cushion interposedbetween the axle and wheel bearing, whereby the movement between saidparts is resisted.

10. In a device of the class specified, in combination, an axle, a wheelbearing pivoted thereto for vertical and horizontal oscillations, ashock absorbing lever movable with respectto the main axle and Wheelbearing, l bearing, and a resilient material interposed and a shockabsorbing material resisting the between the other of said levers andthe main movements of said lever. axle.

11. In a shock absorber for vehicles, a WILLIAM E. SNEDIKER. 5 mainaxle, two levers angularly disposed to Witnesses: I each other andmovable With respect to the WM. H. BARKER,

mainaxle, one of said levers forming a Wheel NETTIE L. BEAL.

